top 50 albums...so far (2018)

top 50 albums..so far...2018

From January to June, the release schedule, and quality albums, has been a non-stop flow in the Americana, Blues, Folk, Bluegrass, Soul and other styles taking at seat at the American Roots table. By the Way, I Forgive You from Brandi Carlile broke her to a wider audience, as did the causes she took on with her championing of the youth gun control movement as well as her appearance at marches and protests. Joining Brandi Carlile in the top ten album releases from 2018 are newer artists such as Sarah Shook and the Disarmers, Joshua Hedley, and Sam Morrow alongside seasoned performers and perennials favorites John Prine, Buddy Guy, and the pairing of Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Filling out the ten spots at the top are musicians who best their own work with each release such as The Milk Carton Kids, Leon Bridges, and American Aquarium.

It has been, so far, a very good year. The diversity glasses we have adopted as needed fashion accessories have expanded their benefits from eyes to ears, handshakes to hip shakes with strong new releases from The Record Company, Paul Cauthen, Danielle Nicole, Gretchen Peters, Trampled by Turtles, Barrance Whitfield & The Savages, The Wood Brothers, and more. First time on the chart artists Buffalo Gospel, Liz Brasher, and Ruby Boots join debuts from solo performers collecting in I’m with Her (Aoife O’Donovan, Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz) and The Reckless Electric (Mary Bragg, Becky Warren).

The Top 50 So Far for 2018 is streamed as the top ten artists on our website with the full list available as a Spotify playlist. Click on the cover to purchase and listen to more.

01 Brandi Carlile – By the Way, I Forgive You
was released on 2-16-18, and is available on Low Country Sound

06 Leon Bridges – Good Thing was released on 5-4-18, and is available on Columbia Records

02 John Prine – The Tree of Forgiveness was released on 4-13-18, and is available on Oh Boy Records

07 Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore – Downey to Lubbock
was released on 6-1-18, and is available on Yep Roc Records

03 Sarah Shook & the Disarmers – Years Disarmers was released 4-6-18, and is available on Bloodshot Records

08 Buddy Guy – The Blues is Alive and Well
was released on 6-15-18, and is available on Silvertone Records

04 The Milk Carton Kids – All the Things I Did and All the Things I Didn’t Do was released on 6-22-18, and is available on Anti- Records

09 Sam Morrow – Concrete and Mud
was released on 3-30-18, and is available on Forty Below Records

05 American Aquarium – Things Change was released on 6-1-18, and is available on New West Records

10 Joshua Hedley – Mr. Jukebox
was released on 4-20-18, and is available on Third Man Records